Okay, I can do this. I can. Jessica Rabbit…slow, deliberate movements, bedroom eyes…no sweat. Oh, God, I’m sweating.
Trying her best to ignore the drop of perspiration she felt slide between her breasts, she slowly picked up the glass, held the waiter’s gaze, and tipped the wine to her lips to take a small sip. The sweet wine flowed over her tongue and spread its warmth down her throat and into her belly. She let her lids drift closed and emitted a satisfactory moan before pulling the glass away. Opening her eyes again, she smiled and asked, “I’m sorry, what was your name again?”
“Daniel.” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “My name is Daniel.”
She toyed with the ends of a section of her hair and threw him what she hoped was a dazzling smile. “Well, Daniel, the wine is lovely, thank you. Though he’s usually fairly clumsy, I’m certain my brother will be able to refill my glass while you take care of your other customers. We’ll be needing just a few more minutes to decide our order.”
Daniel performed a shallow bend at the waist, returning her smile. “Of course. I’ll be back shortly to take your order. And please, if there’s anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask.”
As soon as he left, Lucie downed the rest of the wine in her glass in one shot. Meanwhile, Reid was giving her a subdued slow clap. “Brava, sweetheart. You could’ve asked him to lick your shoes and he’d have thanked you for the opportunity. How did that feel?”
“Awful,” she grumbled while he refilled her glass.
“Come on. I know it’s not your comfort zone, but be honest with me.” He leaned forward, forearms crossed on the table. “Be honest with yourself.”
She treated herself to a few more gulps of wine and welcomed the feeling of it swirling in her veins, easing the tension in her body. Placing the glass on the table she met his gaze and thought about what he said.
He was right. She wasn’t being honest.
“It was…flattering. Empowering.”
“Exactly. Remember, even when you land a date with the doc, there’s nothing wrong with a little outside flirting to remind him he’s not the only fish in the sea. Now, let’s get your boy toy back over here, ‘cause I’m starving.”
The rest of the evening passed with great conversation and secret chuckles at Daniel’s continued state of enamor with Lucie. When he gave Reid the check, he slipped her one of the restaurant’s business cards with his number scrawled on the back. As silly as it sounded, a rush of giddy excitement flowed through her. It was the first time anyone had blatantly hit on her.
She would’ve kept the card, possibly laminated it and tucked it into the frame of her bedroom mirror, but Reid confiscated it, tore it in quarters, and left it on his plate. She was about to object when he said, “We’re fishing for orthopedic surgeons, remember? Little ones like waiters, we throw back in. Besides, he didn’t pass big brother’s inspection.”
Lucie couldn’t help but laugh. Whether it was good food, good wine, good company, or a combination of all three, she was feeling fantastically relaxed. Something she rarely felt in public. Turned out a little dose of confidence was addictive and she was already looking forward to getting more.
Reid stood and held his hand out to her. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
She smiled and slipped her hand into his and they retraced their path from earlier toward the exit. When they passed through the waiting area she heard a child exclaim, “Dad, look! It’s Reid Andrews!”
Turning she saw a boy not more than ten years old run up to them with a look of pure awe on his adorable face.
Reid held out his fist for the kid to bump his knuckles against it. “Hey, little man, how’s it going? You a UFC fan?”
“Totally! You’re my favorite fighter!”
Just then the boy’s dad approached. “Sorry to bother you, Mr. Andrews. I thought Austin was seeing things, but it’s really you. We’re huge fans.”
“Please, call me Reid. I’m always happy to meet fans. Do you train at all Austin?”
“Uh-huh. Right now I’m a purple belt in Tae Kwon Do, but I want to learn all the different Martial Arts so I can be like you when I grow up.”
“Well, you keep training and work hard and I have no doubt you can do exactly that. Just remember that the skills you learn are to be respected and never used against others outside of the dojo.”
“I know. My sensei tells us the same thing. I can’t believe it’s really you! Man, I wish my friends were here. They’re never going to believe I met you.”
“Tell you what, let my lovely date take a picture of you, me, and your dad. That way you have solid proof.”
“Yeah!”